Water Course
The San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival brings competitive water racing to the San Francisco Bay. International teams gather in McCovey Cove, offering spectators a chance to see synchronized rowing up close. Enjoy the intensity of dragon boat racing in San Francisco, California, where paddlers demonstrate skill and teamwork.
Dragon BoatMcCovey CoveInternational TeamsCompetitive RacingSan Francisco Bay
Watch: San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival
Know Before You Go
- Race schedule
- Powerboat venues typically host race weekends 3-8 times per season under APBA, OPC, or local sanction. Check the calendar — most weeks are open practice or quiet.
- Spectator access
- Shore-line viewing from a beach or pier is the standard vantage. Bring polarized sunglasses, sunscreen, and a chair — boat racing is a sunny stand-around sport.
- Class variety
- Look for tunnel boats, hydroplanes, jet boats, and offshore depending on water size. Race speeds range from 60 mph (small inland) to 180+ mph (offshore unlimited).